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AV referendum: historians and tycoons voice rival views

A group of leading historians have voiced their opposition to altering the UK voting system while several senior businessmen have called for change.

Niall Ferguson, Anthony Beevor and Andrew Roberts are among those who say a switch to the Alternative Vote (AV) would harm democratic principles.

But the chairman of insurer Aviva and other executives said moving to AV would be a "victory for fairness".

A referendum on the change will be held on 5 May.

In a letter to The Times, 25 historians argue that the current first-past-the-post voting system for Westminster elections is the product of a long fight for one vote for every man or woman in the country regardless of wealth, gender, race or creed....
Read entire article at BBC News